Bachelor of Science in Logic and Computation – University of Auckland

Perhaps Charles Percy (C.P.) Snow (1905-1980) – British novelist, scientist, and bureaucrat would have been pleased to see the Undergraduate degree in Logic and Computation in New Zealand? See the copywriting (Undergraduate Handbook 2018)

Logic and Computation is about symbolic systems used by humans and computers.

It applies ideas and techniques from Computer Science, Philosophy, Mathematics and

Linguistics to relate the structure of symbolic representation in human thought and

computer software.

Can you imagine life without your smartphone, your computer, or your gaming console? Computing technology is everywhere in everyday life. Every industry is becoming more and more dependent on computing technology and the market for experts in that field continues to expand and diversify. Graduates who are adaptable and who have demonstrated skills in computing, analytical thinking and communication will always be in demand. The Logic and Computation programme can provide students with programming knowledge, problem solving, communication skills and the logical and critical thinking skills that are highly valued and sought-after in the marketplace.

[The words are basically the same as those of the brochure I took from there in end 2015.]

D.A. Carson – Basics for Believers (2004)

I am disposing of this book – for why see https://chenweilun2014.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/book-preservation/. I write one note for record as below.

I am able to do all things through the help of Christ, which strengtheneth me. [Philippians 4:13 – New Testament, Geneva Bible 1599]

Carson wrote: “This verse is often wrenched out of its context.” (p.124) He expresses the need to see it in light of earlier verses from the letter like verse 11. Carson states Paul’s intent as – in whatever situations, he has trained himself to wholly rely and seek refuge in God and thus “be content.” This is supported by Matthew Poole’s Commentary (Biblehub entry):

we are not to understand it absolutely, but restrictively to the subject matter he had before mentioned in the precedent verses, intimating he could by the Lord’s help use well both prosperity and adversity: or, all those things the Lord called him to and put him upon

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (Biblehub entry):

13. I can do all things] More exactly, I have strength for all things; whether to do or to bear. The Latin versions, beautifully, render, omnia possum. The “all things” are, of course, not all things absolutely; he is not the Omnipotent. They are “all things” with which he has to do, as the will of God brings them to him

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers dissents somewhat…

(13) I can do all things.—Properly, I have strength in all things, rather (according to the context) to bear than to do. But the universal extension of the maxim beyond the immediate occasion and context is not inadmissible. It represents the ultimate and ideal consciousness of the Christian.

Overall it seems better to take the conservative stance of Carson. The reason is logical inference: ‘all things’ is simply not possible. Further, the (old) Greek: “I have strength for all things” and the context is unlikely to mean universal application. 

I hope this provides value.

Transforming Grace (and other variants)

Please give this post a read: https://jennihohuan.wordpress.com/2018/01/22/transforming-grace-and-other-variants/. The title is as above. It is rather related to the earlier post.

Healing Relations: 3 July 2005 [JH]

I remember a phrase along these lines: Christianity has been tried, and not found wanting, but merely impossible.

How tough it is to recognise that in any relationship, we actually fail to see our own flaws (however minute or small or concealed) that contribute to conflict or discomfort? (See 1 John 1:5-10, New Testament of the Bible)

How tough it is to restrain one’s mouth and to be “wholesome” and “edifying” in one’s speech. (Ephesians 4:29, New Testament of the Bible)

How difficult it is for us to avoid jumping to conclusions based on experience or our historical/ingrained worldview?

How many are willing to be peacemakers? (Matthew 5:9, New Testament of the Bible)

I should be repenting “in dust and ashes”. (Job 42:6, Old Testament of the Bible)

Note: All scripture from 1599 Geneva Bible.

Book Preservation

Upon the interpretation of advice and considering several factors, I have thrown away quite some books (less painfully than expected) and printed material. I have been digitising other works, and I hope to digitise my final university year Independent Study Module (ISM) on the historiography* of the August Revolution (Vietnam, 1945).

Some suggested references from the National Library Board/National Archives of Singapore (after seeking their counsel in Jan 2018):

• The preservation management handbook : a 21st-century guide for libraries, archives, and museums / [edited by] Ross Harvey and Martha R. Mahard.

  Call No.:     R English R 025.84 PRE -[LIB]

  Description:        Includes bibliographical references and index.I. Fundamentals — Mapping the preservation landscape for the 21st century — Preservation principles — Managing preservation: policy, assessment, planning — II. Collections — Artifacts and information — The environment — III. Materials and objects — Creating preservation-friendly objects — IV. Media and material — Introduction — Holdings protection — Paper objects and books — Photographic materials — Sound materials — Moving image materials — Digital storage media and files — Textiles — Paintings. Availability:         Lee Kong Chian Reference Library Lvl 8-Reference

• Preservation and conservation for libraries and archives / Nelly Balloffet and Jenny Hille ; Judith Reed, technical editor ; Jenny Hille, illustrator.

  Publisher:  Chicago : American Library Association, 2005.

  Call No.:     R English R q025.84 BAL -[LIB]

  Availability:         Lee Kong Chian Reference Library Lvl 8-Reference

 

Hope this is helpful  :  )

*Historiography = a critical examination of historical sources and products, including in this case Vietnamese magazines (hardcopies from the Yusof Ishak Institute, and online etc.)

Cheers快乐工作人杂志 May 2017-Issue 200

Another Taiwanese magazine review… had been reflecting on setbacks and found this. [All Mandarin/Chinese in Traditional Script. China uses the Simplified Script instead.]

Latisha Chan or 詹詠然 (doubles tennis partner of Martina Hingis) quoted 戴晨志 [Hanyu Pinyin – Dai(4) Chen(2) Zhi(4)], a writer:

 

“放棄，只要一句話; 成功，卻需要一輩子的堅持”. It means – giving up only needs one sentence; but success needs a lifetime of perseverance.

 

Audrey Tang or 唐鳳 [Hanyu Pinyin – Tang(2) Feng(4)], a government minister in Taiwan (plausibly still the youngest in Taiwanese politics at 35; and the first transgender official) spoke in another interview:

 

今天做不好，明天做好就是了 – If you did poorly today, just do well tomorrow

 

She has a different take on failure and success, and enjoys relating/responding to criticism and doubts. There is an interesting divide between the concepts 合作 and 協作 given. I translate the former as ‘cooperation’ and the latter as ‘collaboration’.  合作 probably has a smaller group size with greater expectations; hence more likelihood of failure. 協作, by inference is looser, with a group of people gathering – let’s say an online forum – where people speak openly about their goals, where they need help, and what they had completed so far. Thus, the expectations according to her are limited.